Surplus thread removing apparatus



May 11,1965 H. M. HORNBERGER, SR 3,

SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1..

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May 11, 1965 H. MfHORNBERGER, SR 3,182,620

v SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 'fiww a i May 11, 1965 H. M. HORNBERGER, SR 3,182

SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. :51 I

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May 11, 1965 H. M. HORNBERGER, SR 3,182,620

SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 3, 196 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 TIE l4.

32 INVENTOR:

United States Patent 3,182 620 SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS Harry M. Hornherger, Sn, Mohnton, Pa, assignor to Wm. G. Leininger Knitting (10., Mohnton, Pan, a corporation of Pennsyivania Filed @ept. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 305,989 6 Claims. (Cl. 112-252) This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly concerns a unique machine of this type, as well as a unique attachment for such a machine that is adapted to effect the Cutting, trimming and disposing of surplus thread from the articles operated on by the machine.

Sewing machines have heretofore been used in the practice of closing the open ends of the toe portions of knitted stockings and socks by a straight line of stitches. This prior art procedure of sewing shut the toe ends, one after another, results in the extensions of the sewing thread from one hosiery article to another in progressive order. These continuous thread extensions are later removed by the operator with a pair of scissors. This thread removing operation, by hand, is time consuming and adds to the hosiery production cost. I have previously invented a unique and improved sewing machine which eliminates the said time consuming hand operation and production cost, such machine being disclosed in my US. Patent No. 3,109,399, which was issued on November 5, 1963. However, I have found from experience that the provision of such a machine presents various machine changeover problems, difficulties and costs, which must be successfully overcome in order to meet certain manufacturing and commercialization requirements of the trade on which general acceptance, adoption and use of such equipment is based.

One object of my invention is to provide a novel and improved sewing machine, as well as a novel attachment which can be readily applied to a standard or conventional sewing machine, both of which overcome the indicated and other problems, difficulties and costs.

Another object is to provide a unique sewing machine attachment having certain structural and functional features of advantage over the similar attachments of the prior art.

A further object is to provide such an attachment which can be readily initially embodied in a sewing machine of standard design and construction so as to form an integral part thereof, or provided as a separate unit for installation in existent machines.

It is also an object to provide such an attachment having a surplus thread removing cutter unit arranged in transversely extending planar alignment with the path of travel of the work piece, directly beyond the location where the stitching operation is performed, and a suction device beneath said cutter unit arranged so that the surplus thread is drawn into the cutter unit, is severed and removed thereby, while the work piece travels in parallel relationship over the top of the cutter unit so as to avoid all possibility of injury to the workpiece.

Another object is to provide such an attachment that is structurally and functionally simple, practical, effective and efficient in its operation, strong and reliable in use, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted to serve its intended purpose.

Additional obiects are, to provide, in unique combination with asewing machine having a sewing needle, and means for feeding a work piece to the needle so as to effect a stitching operation, an attachment comprising such elements and parts as: a surplus thread removing cutter unit arranged in transversely extending planar alignment with the path of travel of the work piece beyond the location where the stitching operation is performed,

3,132,626 Fatented May 11, 1965 "Ice which unit includes a fixedly mounted toothed blade and a reciprocably movable toothed blade; an elongated motion transmitting lever pivotally mounted rearwardly of said cutter unit in substantially coplanar relation therewith; means establishing an operating connection between the front end portion of said lever and said movable blade; means connected with the rear end portion of said lever for effecting lateral reciprocal movement of the latter; and a suction device beneath said cutter unit arranged to draw the surplus thread from the Work piece between the teeth of the cutter unit blades while the work piece travels in parallel relationship over the top of the cutter unit.

With these and other objects in view, which will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of one practical and illustrative embodiment of my improvements shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel sewing machine, attachment, elements, features of construction and arrangement of parts in cooperative relationship, as more particularly indicated and defined by the hereto appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a standard sewing machine having my invention applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating the prior art manner in which the toe portions of knitted stockings and socks are connected together by a thread extension from one hosiery article to another in progressive order;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which a hosiery article has its toe end closed by the sewing machine or attachment of the present invention, the surplus thread removed during the stitching operation being shown by broken lines;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational View of the sewing machine illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows certain parts thereof as arranged above and below the table plate on which the sewing machine is mounted or supported;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional View, taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 5-5 on FIG. 4, with the sewingrnachine indicated in dot-and-dash lines;

. FIG. 6 is a plan view, similar to FIG. 5, but with certain parts of the latter removed, to disclose certain of the structural details of my invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 77 on FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken substantially as indicated by the arrows 88 on FIG. 5;

FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are, respectively, an enlarged top, bottom, side elevational, front elevational and rear elevational view of the movable cutter element of my invention;

'FIGS. l4, 15, 16 and 17 are, respectively, an enlarged top, side elevational, bottom and rear elevational View of the surplus thread removing cutter unit of my invention.

It will facilitate an understanding of my invention to first briefly consider some of the more important aspects and phases thereof so that these may be kept in mind when subsequently reading the detailed description of the practical and illustrative embodiment thereof depicted by the drawings.

Accordingly, it is noted that, for purposes of exemplification, the drawings show my invention applied to a standard or conventional sewing machine of the type manufactured and sold by The Merrow Machine Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The construction and operation of such a conventional sewing machine is disclosed in a publication entitled Instructions for Setting Up and Operating Class M Merrow Machines, which publication was copyrighted in 1955 by The Merrow Machine Company.

The said Class M Merrow machines are adapted to overseam and trim simultaneously and form one of the following stitch formations:

(1) A one-thread overseam;

(2) A two-thread overseam or finish;

(3) A three-thread overseam or finish;

(4) A three-thread tight needle thread seam.

Although, in the instant case, my invention is shown embodied in said conventional Merrow sewing machine of the type which is adapted to form a two-thread overseam or finish thread operation, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to such a machine, or to the details of construction and arrangement of the elements and parts illustrated in the drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the accompanying drawing-s only those parts of the conventional above identified sewing machine are shown, or indicated, and will be described, as are deemed necessary to an understanding of the present invention. For further information concerning the construction and operation of the said above identified sewing machine, and a machine in accordance with the invention of my said patent, reference may be had to the heretofore mentioned publication, the said Merrow sewing machine, the patents issued thereon, my said Patent No. 3,109,399, and other literature and publications made available by the manufacturer of said sewing machine with respect thereto.

Those parts of the said conventional sewing machine will first be described with which the present invention is cooperatively associated and this will be followed by a detailed description of my improvements and the manner in which they effect a novel sewing machine and a novel surplus thread removing attachment for such a machine.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4 show a conventional sewing machine 1, which is of the type heretofore indicated and which has a base 2 that is secured to a suitable support, such as to the top of a wooden table plate 3.

The sewing machine 1 has at its left end as seen in FIG. 1, a frame or housing that is generally indicated at 4, which frame carries or supports the usual sewing,

head, generally indicated at 5.

The sewing head 5 includes such usual parts as a needle carrier assembly the general location of which is indicated at 6, a needle plate 7, a plurality of feed dogs 8, a presser foot assembly 9, a presser foot 10, a fabric cutter mechanism (not shown) and a work plate 11.

A drive shaft 12 is arranged lengthwise of the sewing machine and projects a suitable distance beyond each end thereof.

The end portion of the drive shaft 12 which projects beyond the right end of the machine as seen in FIG. 1, is provided with a hand wheel 13 which has an extension integral therewith formed with an annular V-shaped groove to receive a drive belt 14, that is operatively connected in well known manner to a motor (not shown) for imparting rotation to the drive shaft 12.

The needle plate 7 is provided with openings or slots in which sewing needles 15 operate in well known manner from the needle carrier assembly 6. Usual loopers (not shown) are arranged to cooperate with the needles 15 to form the stitches. The feed dogs 8 are arranged beneath the presser foot 10 and operate to feed the work piece positioned between the feed dogs and presser foot, to the needles so as to effect the usual stitching operations.

The feed dogs 8 are operated in well known manner by rotation of the drive shaft 12, and the usual motion is imparted to the feed dogs in customary manner by which the work pieces are advanced in a direction lengthwise of the needle plate 7 to the needles 15, during the stitching operation.

In sewing operations involving, for example, womens knitted socks 16, of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, and more particularly to close the toe portions 17 thereof by a straight line of stitches 18 in such progressive order that the sewing thread 19 will extend from the toe portion of one sock to the toe portion of the next sock, the sewing operations are all in accordance with the prior art practice as accomplished with the Merrow sewing machine above identitied and having the various elements and parts heretofore described.

The present invention provides improved means for eliminating the connecting thread 19 between the stitched socks as carried out by the previously mentioned hand cutting operation with scissors, in accordance with the prior art practice. The present invention does this by making the toe closing stitching operation a separate procedure for each sock, so that there are no connecting threads between the successive socks operated on by the sewing machine. To this end the structural and functional means of the present invention are cooperatively associated with certain heretofore described and indicated mechanisms in the manner next set forth.

The work plate 11 is located at the end of the sewing machine having the sewing head 4, and overlies the operating mechanism for the feed dogs and associated parts.

The work plate 11 comprises an elongated body having a front fiat horizontally arranged work receiving and supporting portion 20 which extends forwardly beyond the front face of the sewing machine a suitable distance.

As shown best in FIG. 1, a relatively large notch 21 is formed in the work plate 11 inwardly of its right side portion. The purpose of this notch 21 is to provide an opening for parts of the sewing head elements, such as the feed dogs 8 and the presser foot 10.

Beyond the notch 21, the body of the work plate 11 extends rearwardly a suitable distance to provide a rear portion 22 of fiat generally arcuate configuration that is somewhat downwardly offset as shown in FIG. 4. The work piece to be stitched is moved along the top surface of the horizontally arranged portion 20 of the work plate 11, and said surface consequently defines the path of travel of the work piece during its feeding and stitching operation.

The work plate 11 is pivotally connected in usual manner by a stud 23 with a bracket 24 on the sewing machine and arranged so that it can be swung on said pivot 23, to the left, as seen in FIG. 1, thereby to expose and facilitate access to the parts therebeneath.

The parts of my invention that are cooperatively associated with the sewing machine parts heretofore described and indicated, generally comprise, a surplus thread cutter unit 25, an operating lever 26, an eccentric device 27, an elongated connecting rod 28, an electric driving motor 29, a trough-shaped suction nozzle 30 and an extension pipe or hose 31. The eccentric device 27 and the portion of the operating lever 26 that extends to the cutter unit 25 is substantially enclosed by a cover element C that is secured in place by two screws S, S, to a base plate 43 hereinafter more particularly described.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the surplus thread cutter unit 25 is arranged to extend horizontally in direct coplanar relation with the horizontal path of travel of the work piece as established by the upper surface of the front straight portion 20 of the work plate 11, in the area beyond this point where the work piece is operated on by the needles 15 of the sewing head 5.

The surplus thread cutter unit 25 is more particularly illustrated in assembled form by FIGS. 14-17, and includes an upper cutter blade element 32 that is provided with a plurality of teeth 33 having side cutting edges, which cutter element is provided with two countersunk apertures 34 for the extension therethrough of two screws 35, 35 (see FIGS. 1, 5, and 6) to fixedly secure the cutter unit 25 to an integral upwardly projecting extension 24 of the sewing machine bracket 24. The underside of the blade element 32 is provided with two smooth offset surface members 32 and 32*, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained.

The cutter unit 25 includes a lower cutter blade element 36 (see FIGS. 9-13) that is provided with a plurality of teeth 37 having side cutting edges, which teeth are generally similar in form to the teeth 33 of the cutter blade element 32. The blade element 36 is provided with a V-shaped groove 38 arranged transversely of its lower surface, into which groove extends a V-shaped rib 39 of a metallic pressure applying spring element 44). At its upper surface, the blade element 36 is also provided with two smooth upwardly offset surface members 36 and 36 that are of substantially the same width as the surface members 32 and 32 and arranged in aligned contacting relation with the surface members 32 and 32 of the cutter element 32.

A second somewhat shorter auxiliary or reinforcing spring element 41 is contactingly arranged beneath the first spring element 49, as clearly shown in FIG. 15, and both of the spring elements 40 and 41 are combinedly secured to the underside of the cutter blade element 32 by two therethrough extending screws 42, 42. The said two spring elements 46 and 41 are arranged so that the V- shaped rib 39 will exert sufficient, constant and uniform pressure against the movable cutter blade 36 to maintain the surface members 36 and 36* thereof in smooth slidable contact with the surface members 32 and 32 of the fixed cutter blade element 32. By this contacting surface arrangement the movable blade 36 can be smoothly and easily reciprocated relative to the fixed blade 32.

The rear portion of the movable cutter blade element 36 is provided with a notch 36 into which extends an operating head 26* integrally formed on the formed end of the lever 26.

The lever 26 is pivotally mounted on a base plate 43 by a shouldered screw 44, and said base plate 43 is fixedly secured to the sewing machine bracket 24 by two shouldered screws 45, 45 (see FIG. 7).

At its rear end, the base plate 43 has a downwardly extending boss 46 formed integrally therewith and said boss is provided with a circular bearing forming bore 47 that terminates at its upper end in a circular cavity 48 of greater diameter than the bore 47.

The eccentric device 27 is rotatably mounted in said bore 47 and cavity 48 and generally comprises a metallic cylindrical stem or shaft 49, having integrally formed at its upper end a disc-like member 50, a segmental portion of which is cut away as indicated at 51. Mounted on the upper surface of the disc-like member 50 is a roller -59, by means of a short pin or stud 52 that is located in eccentric relation to the axis of the disc-like member 50 and its cylindrical stem 49. The pin 52 is secured in a vertically extending bore provided therefor in the disclike member 50, and said pin 52 is fixedly secured in position by a set screw 53 that extends laterally through a portion of the disc-like member 50, as indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The roller 51 extends vertically through a slot 54 formed along the longitudinal center line at the rear end of the operating lever 26.

A cover plate 55 is positioned on the top surface of the lever 26, over the slot 54, and fixedly held in position by two screws 56, 56 that are anchored in the lever 26.

The lower end of the cylindrical stem or shaft 49 is provided with an axial bore 57' into which extends the elongated connecting rod 28, and the latter is secured to the stem 49 by a set screw 58. The connecting rod 28 extends downwardly through an aperture 59 formed in the wooden table plate 3 on which the sewing machine is mounted. As clearly shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the elongated connecting rod 28 is secured in the axial bore of a connecting sleeve 60, by a set screw 61, and said connecting sleeve 60 is fixedly secured to the drive shaft 62 of the electric motor 29 by two oppositely arranged set screws 63, 63.

The motor 29 is mounted in an adjustable bracket 64 having two upwardly extending legs 64 and 64 the upper ends of which are provided with lateral extensions 64 and 64 that are respectively secured to the underside of the table plate 3, by screws 65, only one of which is shown in FIG. 4.

The trough-shaped suction nozzle 30 is located directly beneath the teeth of the surplus thread cutter unit 25 and is formed by cutting away the upper half section at one end of a metallic pipe 30 of suitable diameter, as indicated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The pipe 30 is curved and arranged to extend in rearwardly and downwardly inclined direction beneath the Work plate 11. The front end of the pipe 38 is secured in position by a bracket 66 that is fixedly held against the extension 24 of the sewing machine bracket 24, by a screw 67. The rear end of the pipe 3th rests on a plate bracket B that is fixedly secured in any practical manner to, and extends outwardly from, the back of the machine frame or housing 4. The rubber hose or pipe 31 extends to a usual remote waste container (not shown). The suction means whereby suction is created in the rubber hose 31, the pipe 30 and the nozzle 36, may be of any practical and approved well known prior art type, such as used, for example, for a surplus thread removing purpose in connection with sewing or other similar machines.

It is to be noted that the teeth 33 and 37 of the cooperating cutter blades 32 and 36 are rounded or blunted at their forward extremities or tips and that said teeth are relatively short in length. This prevents any part of the work piece, or hosiery article, from being caught, pierced or ruptured by the teeth as it passes horizontally thereover after being stitched.

Operation In operation, the motor 29 is turned on in usual manner by throwing a suitable switch (not shown) that effects How of an electric current to the motor as well as to the suction means which establishes a suction in the pipes 31, 3G and the suction nozzle 36. As the motor driving shaft 62 rotates, this rotational motion is transmitted by the connecting rod 28 to the eccentric device 27 thereby causing lateral reciprocation of the rear end of the lever 26. The lateral reciprocating movement of the front end of the lever 26 is transmitted by the lever head 26* to the lower movable cutter blade 36 so that the cutter unit 25 is actuated in usual manner to cut any surplus thread that is drawn between the teeth thereof by the suction from the suction nozzle 30.

When .a work piece, such as a knitted sock 16, having an open toe portion 17, is placed on the work plate 11 for the purpose of closing the open toe portion by a straight line of stitches 68, loose threads 69 and 70 are produced at the front and rear ends respectively of the stitched portion of the sock, as indicated in FIG. 3. The broken lines 71 shown in FIG. 3 illustrate the toe exten sion portion of the knitted sock which is cut off by the fabric cutter mechanism (not shown) which forms a conventional part of the sewing machine. This cutting action takes place simultaneously with the straight line stitching operation.

As the work piece advances beyond the needles 15 and the surplus thread 69 reaches the vicinity of the cutter unit 25, suction from the nozzle 3% draws the free end portion 69 of the thread, through the cutter blades 33 and 37 for severance thereby. The severed thread is then drawn by suction into the nozzle 30, through the pipes 3t) and 31 and conducted thereby to a usual remote waste container (not shown).

As the work piece or sock 16 moves past the cutter unit 25, the trailing thread 70, as it is severed by the cutter blades, is drawn by suction into the nozzle 30 and conducted to the remote waste container in the same manner as previously indicated.

In this manner, surplus threads at the ends of socks, or other work pieces to which a straight line of stitches is applied, are quickly and efficiently removed, thereby reducing the time required for this operation.

It is to be particularly noted that the cutter unit 25 extends in coplanar relation with the path of travel of the work piece and that the latter will move in a straight horizontal line, first along the top surface of the front straight portion 20 of the work plate 11, then along the top surface of the cutter unit 25, then along the coplanar top surface of the cover element C. In this manner, injury to the work piece is prevented since no part or portion thereof which normally moves along said path of travel will, or can, move between the side cutting edges of the teeth 33 and 37 of the cutter unit blades.

Modifications Of course, it will be understood by those skilled in this art that the improvements specifically shown and described can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed,

the scope of which is more particularly indicated and defined by the hereto appended claims.

It will also be understood that my improvements can be similarly used in connection with articles, or work pieces, other than hosiery, for surplus thread removing and other purposes in general, to obtain substantially the same unique results, benefits and advantages of my invention.

Furthermore, obvious substitutions may be made within the purview of my invention. For example, instead of the elongated connecting rod 28, a flexible shaft may be utilized to transmit the motion from the driving shaft 62 of the motor 29 to the eccentric device 27, so as to permit the motor to be located in the same positional, or another, relationship than as shown. Also that the motor 29 may, if desired, be mounted above the table plate 3, in connected relation with the eccentric device 27 and above the latter.

I claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described which comprises in combination; a sewing needle; means for feeding a work piece to the needle so as to effect a stitching operation; a surplus thread removing cutter unit having a horizontally disposed blade provided with a cutting area defining surface portion arranged in interposed substantially coplanar relation along a horizontal path of travel of the work piece beyond the location where the stitching operation is performed and in such manner as to enable the Work piece to be contactingly moved along said surface portion; and means for effecting operation of said cutting unit.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, which includes suction means arranged below the cutter unit and adapted to effect disposal of the surplus thread severed by the cutter unit to a location remote from the latter.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, which includes a surplus thread receiving suction nozzle having a thread entering portion of substantially trough-shaped configuration that is positionally arranged directly below said cutter unit so as to effect drawing of the surplus thread into the latter.

4. An apparatus of the character described which comprises in combination; a sewing needle; means for feeding a work piece to the needle so as to effect a stitching operation; a surplus thread removing cutter unit which includes a lower horizontally disposed, reciprocably operable toothed blade, and an upper horizontally disposed stationarily mounted toothed blade having a top surface portion arranged in interposed substantially coplanar relation along the path of travel of the work piece, said top surface of said upper blade being positioned beyond the location where the stitching operation is performed and in such manner as to enable the work piece to be contactingly moved along said top surface; and means for effecting reciprocation of said lower blade so as to effect cutting of the surplus thread by the cutter unit.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, which includes a surplus thread receiving suction nozzle having a thread entering portion of substantially trough-shaped configuration that is positionally arranged below the reeiprocably operable toothed blade of said cutter unit so as to effect drawing of the surplus thread into the latter.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein the tips of the teeth of said toothed blades are blunted.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,738 6/37 Vesconte 112218 2,356,378 8/44 Capolupo.

2,712,805 7/55 Peterson.

3,058,438 10/62 Russell l12--252 3,118,405 1/ 64 Schenkengel 112-252 3,125,052 10/ 64 Spivey 112-252 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference I11 Interference No. 95,240 involving Patent No. 3,182,620, H. M. Hornberger, 81"., SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING APPARATUS, final judg ment adverse to the patentee was rendered Sept. 30, 1968, as to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 5 and 6.

[Ofiioial Gazette March 17, 1970. 

1. AN APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION; A SEWING NEEDLE; MEANS FOR FEEDING A WORK PIECE TO THE NEEDLE SO AS TO EFFECT STITCHING OPERATION; A SURPLUS THREAD REMOVING CUTTER UNIT HAVING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BLADE PROVIDED WITH A CUTTING AREA DEFINING SURFACE PORTION ARRANGED IN INTERPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR RELATION ALONG A HORIZONTAL PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE WORK PIECE BEYOND THE LOCATION WHERE THE STITCHING OPERATION IS PERFORMED AND IN SUCH MANNER AS TO ENABLE THE WORK PIECE TO BE CONTACTINGLY MOVED ALONG SAID SURFACE PORTION; AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING OPERATION OF SAID CUTTING UNIT. 